Clarifying examples meant to provide guidance to private foundations with regard to program-related investments have been issued by the IRS in TD 9762, adding the examples at the end of Reg. §53.4944-3(b). The examples generally are the same as those found in the proposed regulations with one example clarified based on comments received.

The preamble notes the basic issue faced by private foundations and the provisions on program-related investments:

Section 4944(a) imposes an excise tax on a private foundation that makes an investment that jeopardizes the carrying out of its exempt purposes (a “jeopardizing investment”). Section 4944(c) provides that investments that are program-related investments (“PRIs”) are not jeopardizing investments. Section 4944(c) defines a PRI as an investment: (1) the primary purpose of which is to accomplish one or more of the purposes described in section 170(c)(2)(B); and (2) no significant purpose of which is the production of income or the appreciation of property. The regulations under section 4944(c) provide that an investment is made primarily to accomplish one or more of the purposes described in section 170(c)(2)(B) (referred to in this preamble as “exempt purposes”) if it significantly furthers the accomplishment of the private foundation’s exempt activities and would not have been made but for the relationship between the investment and the accomplishment of those exempt activities.

To help in interpreting those rules, the IRS issued proposed regulations containing additional examples. In the preamble to the proposed regulations the IRS provided a set of guiding principles to explain the regulations:

The preamble to the NPRM noted that the additional PRI examples in the proposed regulations illustrated that: (1) An activity conducted in a foreign country furthers an exempt purpose if the same activity would further an exempt purpose if conducted in the United States; (2) the exempt purposes served by a PRI are not limited to situations involving economically disadvantaged individuals and deteriorated urban areas; (3) the recipients of PRIs need not be within a charitable class if they are the instruments for furthering a exempt purpose; (4) a potentially high rate of return does not automatically prevent an investment from qualifying as a PRI; (5) PRIs can be achieved through a variety of investments, including loans to individuals, tax-exempt organizations and for-profit organizations, and equity investments in for-profit organizations; (6) a credit enhancement arrangement may qualify as a PRI; and (7) a private foundation’s acceptance of an equity position in conjunction with making a loan does not necessarily prevent the investment from qualifying as a PRI.

Although one commentator requested that the IRS move these principles into the regulation itself, the IRS declined to do so arguing that the examples themselves provide sufficient illustration of these principles.

The IRS did modify one example found in the proposed regulations, explaining that change as follows:

One commenter suggested amending Example 11, which involved a private foundation’s investment in a subsidiary of a drug company for the development of a vaccine to prevent a disease that predominantly affects poor individuals in developing countries. Under the investment agreement described in the Example, the subsidiary is required to distribute the vaccine to the poor individuals in developing countries at a price that is affordable to the affected population and to promptly publish its research results. The commenter recommended that the example be modified to make it clear that the subsidiary can also sell the vaccine to those who can afford it at fair market value prices. The final regulations amend Example 11 to adopt this clarification, which is appropriate given that the Example also specifies that Y’s primary purpose in making the investment is to fund scientific research in the public interest and no significant purpose of the investment involves the production of income or the appreciation of property.

The commenter also recommended removing the publication requirement described in Example 11, contending that the provision of the vaccine to the poor at affordable prices without more furthers the accomplishment of exempt purposes. Example 11 illustrated a known fact pattern that was presented in a private letter ruling issued by the IRS. Although it is not possible for the regulations to provide examples illustrating every conceivable fact pattern, the Treasury Department and the IRS note that other fact patterns that do not contain all of the same elements as those illustrated by Example 11 may nonetheless further an exempt purpose if the requirements of the regulations are otherwise satisfied. Accordingly, the final regulations do not adopt this comment.

The new examples now incorporated into the regulations are provided below:

Example 11. X is a business enterprise that researches and develops new drugs. X’s research demonstrates that a vaccine can be developed within ten years to prevent a disease that predominantly affects poor individuals in developing countries. However, neither X nor other commercial enterprises like X will devote their resources to develop the vaccine because the potential return on investment is significantly less than required by X or other commercial enterprises to undertake a project to develop new drugs. Y, a private foundation, enters into an investment agreement with X in order to induce X to develop the vaccine. Pursuant to the investment agreement, Y purchases shares of the common stock of S, a subsidiary corporation that X establishes to research and develop the vaccine. The agreement requires S to distribute the vaccine to poor individuals in developing countries at a price that is affordable to the affected population, although, the agreement does not preclude S from selling the vaccine to other individuals at a market rate. The agreement also requires S to publish the research results, disclosing substantially all information about the results that would be useful to the interested public. S agrees that the publication of its research results will be made as promptly after the completion of the research as is reasonably possible without jeopardizing S’s right to secure patents necessary to protect its ownership or control of the results of the research. The expected rate of return on Y’s investment in S is less than the expected market rate of return for an investment of similar risk. Y’s primary purpose in making the investment is to fund scientific research in the public interest. No significant purpose of the investment involves the production of income or the appreciation of property. The investment significantly furthers the accomplishment of Y’s exempt activities and would not have been made but for such relationship between the investment and Y’s exempt activities. Accordingly, Y’s purchase of the common stock of S is a program-related investment.

Example 12. Q, a developing country, produces a substantial amount of recyclable solid waste materials that are currently disposed of in landfills and by incineration, contributing significantly to environmental deterioration in Q. X is a new business enterprise located in Q. X’s only activity will be collecting recyclable solid waste materials in Q and delivering those materials to recycling centers that are inaccessible to a majority of the population. If successful, the recycling collection business would prevent pollution in Q caused by the usual disposition of solid waste materials. X has obtained funding from only a few commercial investors who are concerned about the environmental impact of solid waste disposal. Although X made substantial efforts to procure additional funding, X has not been able to obtain sufficient funding because the expected rate of return is significantly less than the acceptable rate of return on an investment of this type. Because X has been unable to attract additional investors on the same terms as the initial investors, Y, a private foundation, enters into an investment agreement with X to purchase shares of X’s common stock on the same terms as X’s initial investors. Although there is a high risk associated with the investment in X, there is also the potential for a high rate of return if X is successful in the recycling business in Q. Y’s primary purpose in making the investment is to combat environmental deterioration. No significant purpose of the investment involves the production of income or the appreciation of property. The investment significantly furthers the accomplishment of Y’s exempt activities and would not have been made but for such relationship between the investment and Y’s exempt activities. Accordingly, Y’s purchase of the X common stock is a program-related investment.

Example 13. Assume the facts as stated in Example 12, except that X offers Y shares of X’s common stock in order to induce Y to make a below- market rate loan to X. X previously made the same offer to a number of commercial investors. These investors were unwilling to provide loans to X on such terms because the expected return on the combined package of stock and debt was below the expected market return for such a package based on the level of risk involved, and they were also unwilling to provide loans on other terms X considers economically feasible. Y accepts the stock and makes the loan on the same terms that X offered to the commercial investors. Y’s primary purpose in making the investment is to combat environmental deterioration. No significant purpose of the investment involves the production of income or the appreciation of property. The investment significantly furthers the accomplishment of Y’s exempt activities and would not have been made but for such relationship between the investment and Y’s exempt activities. Accordingly, the loan accompanied by the acceptance of common stock is a program-related investment.

Example 14. X is a business enterprise located in V, a rural area in State Z. X employs a large number of poor individuals in V. A natural disaster occurs in V, causing significant damage to the area. The business operations of X are harmed because of damage to X’s equipment and buildings. X has insufficient funds to continue its business operations and conventional sources of funds are unwilling or unable to provide loans to X on terms it considers economically feasible. In order to enable X to continue its business operations, Y, a private foundation, makes a loan to X bearing interest below the market rate for commercial loans of comparable risk. Y’s primary purpose in making the loan is to provide relief to the poor and distressed. No significant purpose of the loan involves the production of income or the appreciation of property. The loan significantly furthers the accomplishment of Y’s exempt activities and would not have been made but for such relationship between the loan and Y’s exempt activities. Accordingly, the loan is a program-related investment.

Example 15. Y, a private foundation, makes loans bearing interest below the market rate for commercial loans of comparable risk to poor individuals who live in W, a developing country, to enable them to start small businesses such as a roadside fruit stand. Conventional sources of funds were unwilling or unable to provide such loans on terms they consider economically feasible. Y’s primary purpose in making the loans is to provide relief to the poor and distressed. No significant purpose of the loans involves the production of income or the appreciation of property. The loans significantly further the accomplishment of Y’s exempt activities and would not have been made but for such relationship between the loans and Y’s exempt activities. Accordingly, the loans to the poor individuals who live in W are program-related investments.

Example 16. X is a limited liability company treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. X purchases coffee from poor farmers residing in a developing country, either directly or through farmer-owned cooperatives. To fund the provision of efficient water management, crop cultivation, pest management, and farm management training to the poor farmers by X, Y, a private foundation, makes a loan to X bearing interest below the market rate for commercial loans of comparable risk. The loan agreement requires X to use the proceeds from the loan to provide the training to the poor farmers. X would not provide such training to the poor farmers absent the loan. Y’s primary purpose in making the loan is to educate poor farmers about advanced agricultural methods. No significant purpose of the loan involves the production of income or the appreciation of property. The loan significantly furthers the accomplishment of Y’s exempt activities and would not have been made but for such relationship between the loan and Y’s exempt activities. Accordingly, the loan is a program- related investment.

Pursuant to a deposit agreement, Y, a private foundation, deposits $h in B, and B lends an identical amount to X to construct the new child care facility. The deposit agreement requires Y to keep $h on deposit with B during the term of X’s loan and provides that if X defaults on the loan, B may deduct the amount of the default from the deposit. To facilitate B’s access to the funds in the event of default, the agreement requires that the funds be invested in instruments that allow B to access them readily. The deposit agreement also provides that Y will earn interest at a rate of t% on the deposit. The t% rate is substantially less than Y could otherwise earn on this sum of money, if Y invested it elsewhere. The loan agreement between B and X requires X to use the proceeds from the loan to construct the new child care facility. Y’s primary purpose in making the deposit is to further its educational purposes by enabling X to provide child care services within the meaning of section 501(k). No significant purpose of the deposit involves the production of income or the appreciation of property. The deposit significantly furthers the accomplishment of Y’s exempt activities and would not have been made but for such relationship between the deposit and Y’s exempt activities. Accordingly, the deposit is a program-related investment.

Example 19. Assume the same facts as stated in Example 18, except that instead of making a deposit of $h into B, Y enters into a guarantee agreement with B. The guarantee agreement provides that if X defaults on the loan, Y will repay the balance due on the loan to B. B was unwilling to make the loan to X in the absence of Y’s guarantee. X must use the proceeds from the loan to construct the new child care facility. At the same time, X and Y enter into a reimbursement agreement whereby X agrees to reimburse Y for any and all amounts paid to B under the guarantee agreement. The signed guarantee and reimbursement agreements together constitute a “guarantee and reimbursement arrangement.” Y’s primary purpose in entering into the guarantee and reimbursement arrangement is to further Y’s educational purposes. No significant purpose of the guarantee and reimbursement arrangement involves the production of income or the appreciation of property. The guarantee and reimbursement arrangement significantly furthers the accomplishment of Y’s exempt activities and would not have been made but for such relationship between the guarantee and reimbursement arrangement and Y’s exempt activities. Accordingly, the guarantee and reimbursement arrangement is a program-related investment.